Text Size
Bookmark and Share
 

Health and Community Services
January 18, 2011

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Encouraged to Go Smoke-Free for
National Non-Smoking Week

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is marking National Non-Smoking Week by urging everyone to live smoke-free. The theme of this year’s National Non-Smoking Week (January 16-22) is, There are hundreds of reasons to quit... what’s yours?

“Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “The Provincial Government is pleased to support Non-Smoking Week as part of our commitment to promote a tobacco-free culture and reduce the rate of smoking in the province.”

The Provincial Government has taken several steps to support tobacco reduction through two provincial strategies, organizational funding and legislation.

The recently released Cancer Control Strategy focuses on reducing the incidence and impact of cancer and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. One of the key policy directions of this strategy involves cancer prevention through promoting a healthy population in Newfoundland and Labrador. The goal of the Provincial Tobacco Control Strategy is to prevent children and youth from starting to smoke, support people in their efforts to quit smoking and protect people from exposure to second-hand smoke. For example, in partnership with the Regional Health Authorities, the Provincial Government implements the Born Smoke-Free Program which aims to create smoke-free environments for newborns and their families.

In addition, approximately $415,000 in annual funding is provided to tobacco reduction groups in the province. From this funding $240,000 is provided to the Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT), and $175,000 to the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association’s Provincial Smokers’ Helpline which provides a free, confidential and convenient telephone service that includes counselling and support to quit smoking. In November 2010, during the launch of the Cancer Control Strategy, ACT was provided with an additional $50,000 in one-time funding to develop a social media campaign targeting young adults to quit smoking.

In January 2010, further amendments to the Tobacco Control Act came into force, which restricted how tobacco products can be displayed, stored and promoted in retail stores.

“Smoking is a major contributor of serious chronic diseases including cancer, emphysema and lung disease,” said Minister Kennedy. “In addition to providing funding to our partners, as part of the cancer control policy framework, our government takes a comprehensive approach to tobacco control that includes public education, legislation, taxation, and community and school programs.”

The programs and policies currently in place have seen the percentage of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aged 15 years and older who currently smoke reduced to 21 per cent, down from 28 per cent in 1999. The youth smoking rate between the ages of 15-19 has been nearly cut in half, down to 16 per cent.

- 30 -

Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and
Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

2011 01 18                                                       10:00 a.m.


 

 
Last Updated:
This page and all contents are copyright, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, all rights reserved.